Humans of HTB #11: Dimitris’s journey into product marketing

Step into the vibrant world of the Humans of HTB (HoH), your behind-the-scenes glimpse into the growth of our talented team and dynamic culture!  

In this HoH series, we talk with Dimitris about his journey at HTB as a product marketing specialist.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m Dimitrios (Dimimele), a Product Marketing Specialist at Hack The Box. I’ve been here for almost four years, contributing to two different teams across various functions. I started as a Business Development Representative, advanced to Senior BDR, and, driven by my  collaboration with product and marketing—along with my passion for Hack The Box’s B2B offering—moved into product marketing.

For the past two years as a Product Marketing Specialist, my focus has been on bringing products to market, equipping our sales team with the right materials and insights, and driving higher customer conversion, engagement, and value communication. 

This role demands strong collaboration across multiple commercial and technical functions, including product, content engineering, marketing, and sales.

You have been at HTB for quite some time. What makes HTB a unique place to work?

What makes HTB unique is the strong sense of community—both within the organization and among the countless people out there using HTB. 

The dedication to learning, engagement, and a hacking mindset fosters a true sense of belonging, contribution, and growth. From day one, the company has been committed to preserving this core value as it continues to expand. It’s an environment that prioritizes its people and emphasizes collective development.

What enabled your transition to product marketing, and why did you find it an attractive domain?

My sales experience sharpened my ability to communicate value, identify market gaps, and stay at the forefront of our customers' needs. Constant exposure to our solutions and product updates fueled my excitement to share these developments with prospects and refine my pitch, even allowing me to influence the product directly.

As I honed these valuable skills, I realized that my interests extended beyond sales. Curious about product marketing, I turned to the marketing team and was drawn to its diverse projects and strategic impact. 

This led me to request a transition into the team as the first Product Marketing Specialist.

Through my involvement in multiple campaigns, global events, and ad-hoc projects—along with insightful discussions—the marketing team welcomed me with open arms. 

This move provided new opportunities to learn, deepen my understanding of the function, and contribute my insights from my previous HTB Sales experience.

What do you enjoy most about your job now?

Every project I take on is a unique experience. With our rapidly growing solution, each new feature, product, onboarding initiative, engagement effort, sales enablement, and collaborative project presents a fresh opportunity to develop new skills, refine my communication, and adopt a more strategic mindset. 

One day, I might be focused on market research, tackling requests, and brainstorming with the team; the next, I could be training sales teams, creating brochures, or producing product promo videos and animations.

What are the main challenges of your work now?

Staying organized is one of the biggest challenges in my role right now. With so many moving parts and efforts across the organization, it’s easy for things to feel like they might fall apart if you don’t take a disciplined, strategic approach to your work. Product marketing requires constant communication with multiple stakeholders, so you need to stay sharp and organized at all times—not just for yourself, but for the entire team.

What are your key learnings from your experience at HTB so far?

The opportunity to work with both autonomy and accountability has been central to my growth, allowing me to set my own pace and working style. This doesn’t limit collaboration; in fact, the balance it provides fosters a much more collaborative environment. 

One important lesson I’ve learned is to take a step back when managing multiple moving parts, which has greatly matured me professionally. Each project challenges me to strive for continuous improvement, and that commitment has become a core part of my approach to work.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in product marketing?

If you're transitioning into product marketing for the first time, I would say there’s a lot to learn across various areas, so don’t be afraid to ask for and embrace feedback.

Next, find a product you’re passionate about and want to contribute to. Passion is key, but so is making sure you understand everything about the product—its ins and outs.

Strong communication with other teams is also essential. Know where your responsibilities begin and end, where collaboration is needed, and how to manage cross-departmental communication. 

You'll also need a way to track your success without getting overwhelmed by meetings. This requires transparency in your role, ensuring accountability for yourself and others, and helping you stay organized.

Much of what we do directly impacts things like what we publish, how customers are onboarded, or how a Sales rep handles a difficult pitch. That’s why it's crucial to stay close to the customer's mindset—always thinking as if you are the one interpreting and experiencing what you create.

To sum it up, developing a problem-solving mindset is key. Stay flexible with the constant changes that happen daily, and prioritize effectively throughout the process.

What advice would you give to someone preparing for an interview at HTB?

There’s a people-first culture here, so be yourself. It might sound a bit cheesy, but it’s true. Take the time to understand our product and what we strive for as a company—it’ll give you a better perspective.

Be confident in your ability to work with a global team in a fast-paced environment and don’t hold back your enthusiasm.

Showcase your critical thinking, communication skills, and eagerness to learn, especially if you can apply them directly to the HTB offering based on your previous research. Most importantly, ask questions that will help you gain a deeper understanding of what life is like in this role, on the team, and at HTB.